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Checks and Balance Archive

A denser archive explorer means less scrolling and much better maintenance.

Every structured quiz row now lives in one searchable explorer. Expand only the rows you care about, filter by year or actual participant name, and let the QA badges tell you where the data still needs help.

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The tracker is now split into overview, archive, hosts, QA, and methodology views so the data can be audited like an editorial database instead of buried in one long page.

294

archive rows

Newest to oldest across 2020-2026.

314/338

known coverage ledger

24 episodes still need explicit no-quiz, blocked, or extraction status.

5%

evidence-backed rows

Proof coverage is now tracked separately from extraction confidence.

13

named Jon rows

Historical participant filtering is now useful because those rows survive by name.

Explorer

Search the archive by question, answer, year, outcome, or participant.

Rows stay compact until expanded, which makes the archive usable even as more historical backfills land.

294 matches294 total rows
win2026-02-27Mediumunreviewed

Which president decided that he did like the idea of a speech after all, and restarted the tradition of delivering the State of the Union as a speech?

Donald Trump readies for war, again

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

John provides context about the history of the State of the Union, mentioning that Washington and Adams delivered it as a speech, Jefferson changed it to a written statement, and it remained so for ov

Official answer

Woodrow Wilson

Charlotte Howard

correct

Wilson

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Hoover

stumper2026-02-20Hardunreviewed

Who was the federal prosecutor who secured the indictment of Rostenkowski?

Why Congress just isn't any fun

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Peter Granitz, the producer, sets up the question by discussing Dan Rostenkowski's political career and his indictment.

Official answer

Eric Holder

Charlotte Howard

miss

Rudy Giuliani

Idrees Kahloon

miss

I don't know

tie2026-02-13Mediumunreviewed

The bridge, which has been under construction since 2018, connects Detroit and which city?

MAHA's first annual checkup

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > State

Winner

Tie

Framing

Earlier this week, President Trump said he would not allow the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge to punish Canada.

Official answer

Windsor, Ontario

Charlotte Howard

correct

Windsor

Idrees Kahloon

correct

Windsor, Ontario

win2026-02-06Easyunreviewed

Which country has won the most Olympic curling medals?

All in: America bets on prediction markets

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Media

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

The sporting event that begins this weekend, my personal favorite, is not the Super Bowl, but the Winter Olympics.

Official answer

Canada

Charlotte Howard

correct

Canada

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

win2026-01-30Mediumunreviewed

Who was the last Democrat to represent Maine in the United States Senate?

Blocks of ICE: the fallout from Trump's deportation agenda

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Elections

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

This quiz is about the Maine Senate race.

Official answer

George Mitchell

Charlotte Howard

correct

George Mitchell

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

stumper2026-01-23Mediumunreviewed

Minnesota bills itself as the land of 10,000 lakes, but how many does it actually have?

Minnesota ICE: crackdown in the Twin Cities

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Geography

Winner

Stumper

Framing

It should not come as a surprise that this week's quiz is all about Minnesota.

Official answer

11,842 lakes that are above 10 acres.

Charlotte Howard

miss

8,736

Idrees Kahloon

miss

10,000

stumper2026-01-16Mediumunreviewed

Which president sought to tame inflation through a button campaign?

Cheap shots: the political fight over rising prices

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Donald Trump is not the only president to have struggled with this question of affordability. Other presidents have as well.

Official answer

Gerald Ford

Charlotte Howard

miss

Carter

Idrees Kahloon

miss

LBJ

stumper2026-01-09Mediumunreviewed

Where did Greenland get its name?

Crude behaviour: Trump's Venezuelan adventure

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

We've talked long enough about Venezuela on this podcast so for this week's quiz we're going to talk about Greenland. The sources for this quiz come from the CIA's World Factbook.

Official answer

In the year 985 a Norse navigator Eric the Red named it Greenland to attract settlers.

Charlotte Howard

miss

There was a warming period when Greenland was first being exploited back in the 16th or 17th century.

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Was it possible it was actually green when it was first discovered?

win2025-12-19Mediumunreviewed

In which decade was the White House Christmas tree first lit with electric lights?

Power grab: Presidential authority in 2025

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

It is a Christmas-themed quiz, Christmas but make it politics.

Official answer

The 1890s

Charlotte Howard

correct

The 1890s

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

stumper2025-12-12Mediumunreviewed

Who was the leader of the Luddites?

MAGA vs machine: Republicans split over AI

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Constitutional

Winner

Stumper

Framing

At the beginning of the episode, we heard about the Luddites. In some corners today, that's used as an insult or sometimes a more endearing term for those who are tech averse or want to slow down the deployment of technology.

Official answer

Both King Ludd and Ned Ludd are acceptable.

Charlotte Howard

miss

I don't know

Idrees Kahloon

miss

I don't know

tie2025-12-05Mediumunreviewed

Operation Mongoose was a CIA plan to oust which Western Hemisphere leader?

Americas first: Donald Trump's threats to Venezuela

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Tie

Framing

Operation Mongoose was a CIA plan to oust which Western Hemisphere leader?

Official answer

Fidel Castro

Charlotte Howard

correct

Castro

Idrees Kahloon

correct

Castro

tie2025-11-21Mediumunreviewed

Which president commuted Eugene Debs' sentence?

Loot first: Donald Trump's transactional presidency

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Tie

Framing

In 1920, Socialist Party candidate Eugene Debs won nearly a million votes for president, but he was in prison.

Official answer

Warren Harding

Charlotte Howard

correct

Warren Harding

Idrees Kahloon

correct

Warren Harding

stumper2025-11-14Hardunreviewed

How many other former speakers served non-consecutive terms?

ICE show: how Donald Trump is creating his own police force

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Congressional

Winner

Stumper

Framing

In honor of Nancy Pelosi and her retirement, John asks about other speakers of the House.

Official answer

Six

Charlotte Howard

miss

Four

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Two

stumper2025-11-07Mediumunreviewed

Voters in which city passed a right to repair measure allowing tenants to pay for small repairs and deduct the cost from their rents?

Feeling blue: what Democrats can learn from the elections

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Elections

Winner

Stumper

Framing

For this week's quiz, I'm going to ask you about some ballot measures and elections that didn't get quite as much attention.

Official answer

Duluth, Minnesota

Charlotte Howard

miss

Newark

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Newark, New Jersey

stumper2025-10-31Hardunreviewed

There's a competitive race for mayor in another Midwestern city. A former vice president of the U.S. also served as mayor there. Which city is it?

Free for all: Zohran Mamdani's New York

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

There are other cities in America that have mayoral races this year. It's not just NYC.

Official answer

Minneapolis

Charlotte Howard

miss

Cleveland

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Carmel

stumper2025-10-24Mediumunreviewed

Which president built the outdoor pool at the White House and when?

Map quest: gerrymandering and a race to the bottom

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

This is about the White House itself, given that we're witness to a new construction project there.

Official answer

Gerald Ford, in July of 1975

Charlotte Howard

miss

Nixon

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Kennedy

stumper2025-10-17Mediumunreviewed

Donald Trump had previously complained about a portrait of himself by Sarah Bordman, which was hanging in which state capital?

Deal or No Deal: Gaza in the balance

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > State

Winner

Stumper

Framing

The president took to Truth Social this week to complain about an unflattering photo that Time magazine selected for its cover.

Official answer

Colorado

Charlotte Howard

miss

Oregon

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Iowa

win2025-10-10Mediumunreviewed

Who was the last Democrat who was elected to the US Senate from Texas?

Health scare: the row at the heart of the shutdown

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

This week's quiz is about Democrats in the Lone Star state.

Official answer

Lloyd Bentsen

Charlotte Howard

correct

Lloyd Bentsen

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

stumper2025-10-03Easyunreviewed

How long was the longest government shutdown in history? Bonus point if you know the year.

Tipped scales: the Supreme Court expands the president's power

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Congress

Winner

Stumper

Framing

The theme is a topical one. It's about government shutdowns.

Official answer

35 days, December 2018 to January 2019

Charlotte Howard

miss

31 days in 2018

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

stumper2025-09-26Mediumunreviewed

Which country always gives the opening speech at the general debate?

Unstable bonds: America and Israel

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > International

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Earlier, we heard about speeches at the United Nations General Assembly taking place this week in New York.

Official answer

Brazil

Charlotte Howard

miss

The United States

Idrees Kahloon

miss

The United States

win2025-09-19Mediumunreviewed

When the Milwaukee Bucks threatened to move in 1985, who bought it?

Blue scare: the rising Democratic Socialists

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Idrees Kahloon

Framing

Earlier, we heard about how socialism once thrived in Milwaukee. So, we have some questions about that great city on a great lake.

Official answer

Herb Kohl

Charlotte Howard

miss

I have no idea

Idrees Kahloon

correct

Did he subsequently become a senator?

win2025-09-05Mediumunreviewed

Jerry Nadler currently represents New York's 12th district. Which former member who represented that seat ran for president?

Disorganised chaos: why Democrats can't stand up to Donald Trump

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

Earlier this week, Jerry Nadler announced that he will not run for re-election. He is a longtime Democratic representative from Manhattan and former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. We thoug

Official answer

Shirley Chisholm

Charlotte Howard

correct

Shirley Chisholm

Idrees Kahloon

miss

I don't know

stumper2025-08-29Mediumunreviewed

How many times has Brazil won the Olympic gold medal in football?

Interventionist isolationist: Donald Trump and Brazil

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Sports

Winner

Stumper

Framing

At the beginning of this podcast we heard about coffee which is of course a major Brazilian export and a delicious one particularly when paired with a little pão de queijo. For this week's quiz we've

Official answer

twice

Charlotte Howard

miss

No answer captured

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

win2025-08-22Mediumunreviewed

Since its inception, artists and ensemble casts have been honored, and there's been one theater which has received a Kennedy Center honor. Can you name the venue?

Short circuit: America's fragmented semiconductor policy

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Media

Winner

Idrees Kahloon

Framing

The quiz is about the Kennedy Center. Donald Trump, of course, replaced the board of the Kennedy Center this year, and the new board named him as the chairman, which was a great surprise to everyone.

Official answer

Apollo Theater

Charlotte Howard

miss

Lincoln Center

Idrees Kahloon

correct

Apollo

stumper2025-08-15Easyunreviewed

What is the official state sport of Alaska?

Arctic plunge: Trump and Putin dive in

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Media

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Before I let you both go, it's quiz time, and this one is going to be all about the setting for this meeting, the state of Alaska. So, Charlotte, I'm expecting you to smash this. We've all three spent

Official answer

dog mushing

Charlotte Howard

miss

Hunting

Idrees Kahloon

miss

dog sledding

win2025-08-08Easyunreviewed

Which movie won the best picture at the Academy Awards in 2004 for movies released in 2003?

Treasure map: Trump finds gold in redistricting

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Media

Winner

Idrees Kahloon

Framing

This was the year we talked about Tom DeLay, his activities in 2003. Now we're gonna talk about other things that were happening in 2003.

Official answer

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Charlotte Howard

miss

The Hurt Locker

Idrees Kahloon

correct

Amazingly, it's a Lord of the Rings movie, weirdly.

stumper2025-08-01Mediumunreviewed

Who was the last Democrat to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate?

Strategic shift: the third nuclear age

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Elections

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Earlier this week, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced he's gonna run for the Senate seat there. This is something Democrats are really excited about because he was their best hope in

Official answer

Kay Hagan

Charlotte Howard

miss

John Edwards

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

win2025-07-25Mediumunreviewed

Billie Eilish and Phineas O'Connell won an Oscar in 2024 for a song with what question as its title?

Listener questions: you asked, we answered

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Media

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

Before I let you both go, I have a quiz for you. And appropriately, the theme for this one is books, films, and songs that have a question as a title.

Official answer

What Was I Made For?

Charlotte Howard

correct

What Was I Made For?

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

stumper2025-07-18Hardunreviewed

Who was the most recent member of the House of Representatives to be expelled before George Santos?

Teflon Don: can the economy withstand a Trump shock?

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Congress

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Santos was expelled from Congress after a House ethics report detailed how he used campaign funds for personal use, such as hotel stays, designer clothes, and Botox, of course, and filing false report

Official answer

Jim Traffickant

Charlotte Howard

miss

I don't know

Idrees Kahloon

miss

I don't know

stumper2025-07-11Mediumunreviewed

Who was the presidential candidate from a third party who won the most electoral votes in history?

Trump showers ICE: massive immigration budgets and mass deportation

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

President Trump's erstwhile partner, Elon Musk, says that he's going to create a new political party called, what else, the America Party. I don't know who'd want to sign up to run with Musk calling t

Official answer

Teddy Roosevelt

Charlotte Howard

miss

Ross Perot

Idrees Kahloon

miss

George Wallace

win2025-07-04Mediumunreviewed

How much does a bottle of Victory 47 cost?

Big, yes. Beautiful, no. Donald Trump's regressive bill

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Media

Winner

Idrees Kahloon

Framing

Earlier this week, President Trump unveiled a new product he's selling, Trump fragrances. There's a male and a female one and they're called something like Success.

Official answer

$249

Charlotte Howard

miss

$250

Idrees Kahloon

correct

$249

win2025-06-27Mediumunreviewed

One senator in American history left their party and tipped control of the chamber by doing that. Who was it? And you can get a bonus point if you remember the year.

Nuclear fallout: the aftermath of American involvement in the Iran-Israel war

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Congress

Winner

Idrees Kahloon

Framing

Earlier this week, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski entertained the idea of becoming an independent, leaving the Republican Party. On the GD Politics podcast, she said she's open to exploring something d

Official answer

Jim Jeffords, 2001

Charlotte Howard

miss

Jeffries? 2002, 2001?

Idrees Kahloon

correct

Jim Jeffords, 2001

stumper2025-06-20Mediumunreviewed

When was the G7 created? Bonus point if you know the original name of the group.

Atomic tension: the war between Israel and Iran

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

This week's quiz is about the G7, which met in Alberta, Canada. So nothing to do with Iran or Israel or nuclear weapons. G7, of course, is a group of wealthy democracies. They meet once a year to do s

Official answer

It was founded in 1975, so this is the 50th anniversary of the G7. It was originally a group of six.

Charlotte Howard

miss

It was the G8 until they took Russia out. Was that over Ukraine? It was relatively recently, right?

Idrees Kahloon

miss

It was founded before I became conscious that such a thing would be news, which suggests the 1990s.

stumper2025-06-13Mediumunreviewed

Who was the last sitting governor of New Jersey to lose re-election?

Trump v California: the LA protests and the politics of immigration

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Elections

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Earlier this week, New Jersey voted in primaries to select the candidates for governor. Political nerds pay close attention to the governor's race in New Jersey because it follows the presidential ele

Official answer

John Corzine in 2009

Charlotte Howard

miss

There's the guy who resigned, right? But he didn't lose.

Idrees Kahloon

miss

I don't know. Who was it?

stumper2025-06-06Mediumunreviewed

Do you know how long Charlie Rangel served in Congress?

The rise, fall and future of DEI in America

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Congress

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Late last month, Charlie Rangel died. He was a longtime congressman from Harlem. Rangel was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus. And he was always impeccably dressed. He had

Official answer

46 years

Charlotte Howard

miss

48 years

Idrees Kahloon

miss

50 years

stumper2025-05-30Mediumunreviewed

How much does it cost to produce a penny?

Swamp creatures: Donald Trump and crypto

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Economics > Markets

Winner

Stumper

Framing

The US Treasury announced last week that it will end production of the penny next year. It will remain legal tender for some time, though. I, for one, wholly support this. This week's quiz is all abou

Official answer

Almost 4 cents

Charlotte Howard

miss

1.74

Idrees Kahloon

miss

3.2

stumper2025-05-23Mediumunreviewed

What years did the current Air Force One planes enter service?

Crisis management: how cities are cracking down on homelessness

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Presidential

Winner

Stumper

Framing

We have not talked about Qatar's $400 million gift to President Trump, offering him a new jet to use as Air Force One, a gift that he said he would be stupid not to take. Qatar says it's not trying to

Official answer

The older of the two planes first flew in September 1990, and the second, younger one, first flew in March 1991.

Charlotte Howard

miss

mid-90s to mid-aughts

Idrees Kahloon

miss

80s

win2025-05-16Mediumunreviewed

Can you tell me who Robin Kelly replaced in Illinois' second congressional district?

Political schism: assessing the politics of Pope Leo XIV

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Politics > Congress

Winner

Charlotte Howard

Framing

Pope Leo grew up in the Chicago area and seems to be a White Sox fan. He lived in Dalton, which is in Illinois' second congressional district. So first question, that district is now represented by Ro

Official answer

Jesse Jackson Jr.

Charlotte Howard

correct

Jesse Jackson Jr.

Idrees Kahloon

miss

No answer captured

stumper2025-05-09Mediumunreviewed

Who did Ben Affleck play in the film Argo?

Nuclear clock: Could Donald Trump cut a deal with Iran?

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

Culture > Media

Winner

Stumper

Framing

Earlier, we heard a little bit about the hostage crisis in Iran. Inevitably, a lot of people first learned of the ordeal from the 2012 movie Argo. Very enjoyable movie, in my view.

Official answer

Tony Mendez

Charlotte Howard

miss

I don't remember the characters and whom at all.

Idrees Kahloon

miss

Was he like a CIA guy of some kind?

stumper2025-05-02Easyunreviewed

How many provinces does Canada have?

Jurisdiction for some: Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship

Participants

Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon

Category

History > Constitutional

Winner

Stumper

Framing

We are a show about American politics. We're going to move our gaze northward and have a quiz this week about Canada, just to set you a bit off kilter.

Official answer

10

Charlotte Howard

miss

12

Idrees Kahloon

miss

15-ish

Maintenance

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